Powerbelt bullets

[bowhunter56]

What's your choice, aero tip or hollow point, any hunting experience you can share?

[slickhunter]

Go with the lead power belts. I would not use the copper clad power belts.

Shot deer and elk with the copper bullets, and they fragmented and did not retain their mass. Also shot them into a pail of dirt and they basically disintegrated. Did the same with the lead bullets and they held together nicely.

Have not tried the platniums so can't comment on those..

My advice is to stay away from the copper bullets for hunting, yeah they load and shoot nice but they don't hold together on impact

[Bushpilot]

I went with the 295 grain Aero tips. This is my first year using a muzzle loader. My buddy killed several deer with them last year. He had "pass through" once. But, all 3 times had a dead deer.

Let's just say...for argument sake...that after hitting the ribs, the bullet starts to shed it's copper. Then, as it passes thru the first lung it loses a little mass. Then...as it tears thru the second lung and stops at the rib cage on the other side it is in 2 or 3 pieces. Hmmmm...yeah...that bullet would suck...I don't like the way it "Kills" deer!

Now, back to my personal preference...I Very much prefer a "pass through" but, I'm going to give them a shot and see what they do.Out of 5 shots, I grouped 3 within 1 1/4 inches at 100 yards. I did have two fliers/flinches with the other 2 shots. (I blame the two rogue shots on a HORRIFIC trigger pull weight with my new CVA Kodiak Pro Magnum. I'm gonna get that taken care of after ML season.)

[WABS]

I have used Powerbelts ever since they came out and I agree with slickhunter. I've used the copper clad, but actually seem to get better performance (and save a few dollars) with the 295 gr lead.

[BowHunterNH]

Interesting comments on the copper clad PBs. I shoot a .54 348 PB aero tip PB with 100g T7 and every deer I and my buddy, who uses the same loads, have shot I could put my fist through the exit wound. I would like to try the platinums but they dont make them in .54 so I won't being changing soon.

[WABS]

I've used the copper clads successfully, but I really don't feel the copper adds much, especially when I'm shooting inside 100 yards open sights. I took a muley buck (that's his picture to the left) a few years back in ID at 116 yards and all I could find of the slug was the copper base just inside the skin on the exit side. It appeared the core had exited. 250 lb 5x5 walked about 30 yards and that was it. I have found the remnants of the copper jacket inside a number of deer, though it always seems that the core stayed in tact and did it's job. Like I said I have gone to just using the lead version.

[bowhunter56]

Thanks everyone for the through and detailed info.

[superguide]

Superguide Jr. smacked this guy with one of the copperclads yesterday-it was pretty much perfect pewrformance at just over a 100 yards with 100 grains of 777 it was a complete pass through one shoulder (exit) and pulped both lungs.I imagine we'll keep using them were not too adventuresome as far as loads-bullets etc. If we can buy it locally and it works we keep using it.

[David_218]

[ QUOTE ]


Superguide Jr. smacked this guy with one of the copperclads yesterday-it was pretty much perfect pewrformance at just over a 100 yards with 100 grains of 777 it was a complete pass through one shoulder (exit) and pulped both lungs.I imagine we'll keep using them were not too adventuresome as far as loads-bullets etc. If we can buy it locally and it works we keep using it.

[/ QUOTE ]

ONE VERY NICE BUCK!!!!!

[Randyman]

Count me among those who have had good success with the 295 gr. copperclad aero tips. 3 deer, 3 complete pass throughs with huge exit wounds. None of the 3 ran far enough to make a blood trail necessary, but all 3 left a good one.

[AJ]

Never used them for hunting as none of my 5 different muzzlleloaders like them. I have not been able to get less than 3" groups at 100 yards with them, so I will stick with PR Bullets.

[DaveGP]

i love the way my powerbelts group! excellent!

[hutchies]

Mine group great. For some reason Sabots and my gun don't get along.

[Swamphunter]

I shoot the 348gr copper hollow points. I use 110gr of pyrodex and got a pretty good group.

[RangerClay]

I shoot a 50 cal. with the .348 gr HP Powerbelts. I have had a complete pass through with every deer I have shot with them. However the first deer I shot with one of these bullets did fragment a little before the pass through. A piece broke off and when sailing into the paunch. I wasn't upset, I was actually impressed. (Knock on wood) A piece of fragment might actually help me with a poor shot someday and send a piece into the vitals.